A siege mentality and thought police

I was saddened by what was reported as advice coming from the Office of the President concerning the Guyana National Civil Society Summit and its organizers. (SN, December 17). I hold no brief on this issue for any institution or anyone save for myself.

A friend, in a private conversation, described the reported utterances of the OP as vulgar. For me that evoked two unhealthy images: a siege mentality and the thought police.